Printing device for envelope machines



Nov. 3, 1936. H. G. cowAN ET Al.

PRINTING DEVICE FOR ENVELOPE MACHINES Filed April 2l, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 3, 1936. H. G. coWAN Er A1. 2,059,561

PRINTING DEVICE FOR ENVELOPE MACHINES PRINTING DEVICE EOR ENVELOPE MACHNES Filed April 21, 1932 4 sheets-sheet s Nov.. 3, 1936.rv H. G. COWAN ET A1.

PRINTING DEVICE FOR ENVELOPE MACHINES Filed April 2l, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Nov. 3, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PRINTING DEVICE FOR ENVELOPE MACHINES of Illinois Application April 21, 1932, Serial No. 606,538

6 Claims.

This invention relates to envelope making machines and particularly to printing mechanism for said machines.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a simple and eficient printing device for attachment to an envelope making machine, the printing device being operated by a movable element of the machine and having means controlled by the movement of envelope blanks along a predetermined path for printing on `a back flap on the reverse side of an envelope during the folding and gluing of the envelope.

Another important Aobject of the invention is the provision of a printing attachment on an envelope making machine, the device being operable for printing only when envelopes or envelope blanks are fed along a predetermined path to folding and gluing position.

A further object of the invention resides in the specific novel arrangement and construction of the parts constituting the printing attachment, and the particularvoperation and location of the device and its attendant parts to provide aneiicient and positively operating timed device for successively printing on a back ilap of an envelope during the folding and gluing operations.

A still further object is the provision of new and improved means for printing envelopes during the manufacture thereof, said means including certain parts including inking elements and a platen, the platen being held out of printing engagement, and the inking elements held out of normal inking position when an envelope blank is not properly fed.

Numerous other objects and advantages will be apparent throughout the progress of the following specication.

The accompanying drawings illustrate a selected embodiment of the invention and the views therein are as follows:

Fig. 1 is a detail top plan view of an envelope making machine and including the invention.

Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view of the improved printing device showing the same applied on an envelope making machine, the View being taken on the lines 2 2 of Figs. 1 and 3.

Fig. 3 is a detail longitudinal vertical sectional view on the lines 3 3 of Figs. l and 2.

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of certain correlated parts which control the operation of certain parts of the device.

Fig. 6 is a detailplan `View on the line 6 6 of Fig. 4 showing the type form used in conjunction with the printing device.

Fig. 7 is a detail sectional View of the parts shown in Fig. 5, the parts being in changed position. 5

Fig. 8 is a schematic or diagrammatic View sho-Wing the position certain parts assume after a certain operation.

Fig. 9 is a rear perspective View of a finished envelope. 10

The envelope making machine IB herein shown is preferably of the type which folds blanks III to form envelopes, the blanks I being fed from stacked formation at the feeding end of the machine. The present envelope making machine 15 i il is for the specific purpose of making envelopes for use in second class mail, that is, providing the envelopes with means to permit postal inspection. All the flaps may be glued except one. l. One flap I2 is not glued, permitting it to be pulled 2O out from normal folded position to permit access to the contents of the envelope after the envelope has been sealed for mailing. The completed envelope, when sealed for mailing, has all the characteristics of a regular sealed envelope, but has one flap or leaf which may be slipped out of normal folded position so as to permit postal inspection, if necessary. After the flap has been pulled out and inspection of the contents made, the ap is again inserted in its usual place. However, unless there is some means of designating that the envelope is of the kind just described, the postal authorities will not have cognizance of the fact that there exists a replaceable flap. Therefore the present printing device has been 35 conceived and adopted to print along a diagonal marginal edge of the free flap. This printing device prints along a diagonal marginal edge of the free flap the words Open for postal inspection meaning that the flap may be opened, by pulling 4,0V

out the flap which is inserted in place after inspection.

The envelope making machine I0 has a frame I3 on which a shaft I4 is journaled in bearings I5. The shaft 'I4 has a gear I6 which meshes 45 with a gear I'I mounted on a stub shaft I8. This stub shaft I8 is suitably journaled in the frame I3 and carries a beveled gear I9 which meshes with a gear 20 on a shaft 2I, the shaft 2| being driven by a suitable prime mover, such as an 50 electric motor (not shown).

The shaft I4 carries sprockets 22 and 23 about which chains 24 and 25 pass, the chains also passing around other sprockets 26, only one of which is shown. One of the sprockets 26 (not 55 shown) is positioned at the far end of the machine and has the chain 25 passing thereabout. The purpose of the chain 25 will be described later.

The sprocket 26, operated by sprocket chain 24, operates a shaft 2i, Figs. 2 and 4, which is journaled in a supporting frame 28, the frame 28 including brackets 29 and 30.

A type mounting member 3|, adapted to carry type 32, is fixed to the shaft 21 by means of a bolt arrangement designated generally by the numeral 33. The type carrying member 32 is adapted to carry characters or indicia from which printing impressions are made. The top or the printing surface of the type 32 is recessed slightly below the top of the frame over which the blanks pass so that the machine may be used for making envelopes without printing matter thereon. Therefore, when non-printed envelopes are made, the blanks will pass over the type Without coming in contact therewith.

An inking device 34, Figs. 3 and 4, is arranged below the printing member 3| and has side bars or frames 35 which are provided with legs 36 engaging slots 37 in the printing machine frame 28 so that the device 34 may be removed as a complete and separate unit. The inking mechanism 34 comprises an inking roller 38 which operates in a pot 39. An inking or impression roller 40 puts ink on the type 32 which is carried by the member 3|. The roller 49 receives ink from a wiping roller 4|. The wiping roller 4| carries a collar 42 which is actuated by a geared cam 43 causing axial movementJ of the roller 4|, Fig. 2. The roller 46, Fig. 2, has a gear 44 mounted thereon which is driven by a gear 45 xed to the shaft 2l, Fig. 3, the shaft 2 being the same shaft which rotates the printing element 3|. The roller 45 is mounted on a shaft 46 carrying a gear 4l which drives the cam 63, the cam 43 having external teeth 4S as showrn The geared cam 43 is on an idler shaft 49. The wiping roller 4| has a gear 56 which engages the gear 44 and is thereby rotated, Fig. 2. The shaft 46 also carries a gear 5| at its other end, and this gear meshes with a gear 52. The gear 52 meshes with a gear 53, Fig. 4. The gear 53 is carried on an independent shaft 54, and this shaft 54 carries a cam 55 which engages and contacts with a roller 5S on the shaft 56. The shaft 56 is carried by arms or brackets 5`| which are pivoted on another shaft 58, Fig. 4, and is given back-and-forth movement by the cam 55 and a spring 62. The shaft 56 carries the roller 59 which contacts with the cam surface 60. The shaft 56 also carries a contacting roller 6| which is adapted to come in contact with inking roller 38 when the cam surface 60 reaches a cer-- tain position. The cam 55 moves the inking roller 6| against the inking roller 4|, a spring 62 being provided to urge the roller 59 against the cam 55 and toward the roller 38, as well as return it to original position.

The chain 25 and another chain (not shown) but positioned opposite to the chain 25 and operating synchronously with the chain 25, operate in spaced tracks 62, Fig. 2. Lugs 63 ride in the tracks 62 and are carried around the sprockets by the chains. These lugs include upstanding pins G4 and engage a blank I l from a stack and carry envelopes successively along a predetermined path. A ap |2 of the blankv projects outwardly, Fig. l, and is printed upon by the type 32 on the member 3|.

A platen roller 65 is revolubly mounted on a shaft 66, Figs. '2 and 4, which shaft is supported in suitable bearings in a part of the frame 28. The roller 55 is preferably made of steel and has a bre insert 61 which comes in contacting printing relationship with the type 32. This roller 65 is eccentrically mounted and is carried on an eccentric roller 68 which causes the fibre contacting portion 61 to come into printing relationship with the type 32 at predetermined successive intervals. The impression segment 67 on the platen 65 is brought into printing registration with the type members 32 intermittently because the platen 65 is mounted on the eccentric roller 63 which is carried by the shaft 66. The platen, therefore, in respect to the axis of the shaft 66, is not concentric therewith, but is concentric with the eccentric 68. In other words, the circular platen is concentric with the member 68, and not with the shaft 66, the platen 55 really being eccentric with the axial center line of the shaft 66. rIherefore, during rotation of the shaft 66, the periphery or outer surface of the platen is adapted to be moved in an orbit, bringing the impression portion 61 only into p-rinting registration with the type members 32. This eccentric arrangement is shown more clearly in Fig. 4. By shifting the axial center line of the eccentric, the segment may be kept from coming into printing engagement, as later set forth more fully.

The shaft 66 carries a gear 69 fixed thereon, Fig. 3 which is fixed to the eccentric 66. This gear 69 meshes with a pair of segment gears 10 and 1|. This shaft also carries a loosely mounted gear '|2 which turns with roller 65 which meshes with the gear 45. This construction is part of means for preventing operation of the platen should no blanks be fed to position and for causing operation of the platen for completing the printing operation when blanks are fed to proper printing position. This latter means includes a bifurcated member 'I3 which is fastened to a shaft 14. The bifurcated member 13 is arranged relative to a roller |5 so that the fingers 16 of the member 13 will be positioned on opposite sides of the roller 15 as clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 7. The roller 'l5 is carried on a shaft '11, this roller 'l5 and the member 13 being arranged below the bed 'I8 of the machine so that the envelope blanks passing to printing position will pass over the roller 'l5 and the fingers 16, Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 7, when roller member 19, carried by an arm which is pivotally connected to a part of the frame as indicated at 8|, is adapted to engage the upper surface of the blanks |I as they pass over the ngers 16 to printing position. If no blank is fed, the ngers 16 will move upwardly as the roller i9 is not forcing any blank against the ngers to hold them down. If no envelope blank is fed, the fingers will be in up position, and when moving to that position will rock the shaft 14 in a counter-clockwise direction and operate linkage carried by the shaft.

The linkage includes a link 82 nxed to the shaft and to which a second link 33 is pivoted as indicated at 84, Figs. 3 and 8. The link 83 is pivoted at 85 to a dog or detent 86 which is pivoted to a part of the frame as indicated at 88.

A lever 89 is pivoted to a part of the frame as indicated at 90, there being a spring 9| connected to the lever and to a stationary part of the frame 28, to urge the lever 89 normally in a predetermined direction. A lever 92 is pivotally connected to the lever 89 and to an arm 93 on the segment 1D. In normal printing position,

that is, when envelope blanks are successively being fed to printing position, the parts will be in the position shown in Fig. 3 wth the dog 86 engaging the tailpiece on the segment 1|. Envelope blanks are fed, one at a time, from stacked formation to printing position. The envelope blanks pass over the member 13 holding the fingers down. This down position of the fingers 16 is maintained by the roller 19 pressing the blank I I against the fingers. The parts are free to operate continuously, being set and synchronized to print when the blank attains its proper position relative to the type 32 and the platen.

When, however, no blank is fed, there Will be no paper between the fingers 16 and the roller 19 to hold the fingers downwardly. Therefore, the spaced fingers 16 of the bifurcated member 13 will rise upwardly and turn the shaft 14 in a counterclockwise direction. The member 13 has an extension or weighted portion 13' which normally tends to hold the fingers 16 in an upward position, and inasmuch as the member 13 is fixed to the shaft 14, movement of this member will cause rotative movement of the shaft 14. The weight 13 will cause the fingers to rise upwardly above the surface of the frame when no blank is being fed. As the fingers 16 move upwardly due to the tail weight 13', the! shaft 14 will move in a counterclockwise direction. Counterclockwise movement of the shaft 14 will move the links 82 and 83 and cause the dog 86 to swing on its pivot and become disengaged from the tailpiece at the right end of the segment gear 1|. The spring 9| will therefore pull down on the lever 89 causing lever or link 92 to move downwardly. This downward movement of link 92 will pull down on tailpiece 93 of segment 1|) causing the segment to turn on its shaft or pivot causing gear 69 to rock and move the eccentric roller 68 thereby moving the platen out of printing position with the type 32. While the platen may continue to rotate, it is swung upwardly by the eccentric roller away from printing engagement. Therefore, the platen will not come into engagement with the type 32. When no blank is fed, the parts will assume the position shown in Fig. 8.

When a blank is again fed, it will pass between the fingers 16 and the roller 19 causing the fingers to be depressed and swing the shaft 14 in a clockwise direction. This clockwise movement of the shaft 14 pulls links 82 and 83 and moves the dog toward engaged position. However, the dog cannot engage the tailpiece of segment 1|, at this stage, as the tailpiece of segment 1| is in raised position as shown in Fig. 8. To cause engagement of the dog jaws with the tailpiece of the segment 1| a cam 94 is mounted on the shaft 21, Fig. 3. This cam engages a roller 95 on the lever arm 89 moving the lever arm up against the tension of the spring 9|. This upward movement raises link 92 which in turn rotates segment 1i) turning gear 69 and bringing segment 1| into position where the tailpiece on the segment 1| may be engaged by the engaging jaws of dog 86. The parts will then again assume their original normal working position as shown in Fig. 3 in which position they will remain until a blank is not fed when the parts will move to the position shown in Fig. 8.

While it is true that the cam 94 moves the parts toward restored position upon each revolution thereof, the parts will be prevented from becoming locked in restored position because the dog 86 will be held out of engagement relative to the tailpiece on segment 1|, when a blank is not in position between the fingers 16 and the roller 19. Therefore, before the printing or type portion of the platen can be moved to printing position, the spring 9| will have pulled the link 92 downwardly and the segments 10 and 1| again will have shifted the eccentric gear 69. The type continuously revolves, and as it is carried by an eccentric it can only be restored to printing position by the locking of the dog 86 with the tailpiece on the segment 1|, the printing occurring when the point of cam 94 is in down position. When cam 94 is in up position the type is away from printing position although the parts are shifted to printing position. If the dog 86 does not lock the parts in printing position, the parts again will be moved to non-printing position by the spring 9| before the type reaches its radial position relative to the shaft 66. Therefore, the type will be held out of printing position and be prevented from printing at all times except when the dog 86 is locked with the tailpiece of segment 1|. The locking of the dog 86 with the tailpiece is governed by the fingers 16 which in turn are controlled by the presence or absence of a blank between the fingers and the roller 19. The locking of the dog 86 shifts the eccentric and holds it in shifted position when printing is to be done on a blank passing through the machine to printing position.

The machine is adapted to fold and glue envelopes, printing certain indicia 96 on the flap 91 of the finished envelope 98 during the making of the envelope. The printed matter 96, Fig. 9 is obliquely positioned on the envelope being printed `along an oblique marginal edge of an envelope flap. The indicia or printed matter is information to the postal authorities that the contents of the envelope is not first class mail, and that the envelope contains a replaceable unglued fiap which may be moved out of normal position to permit access to the contents for inspection purposes.

'I'he invention provides a novel printing attachment for envelope making machines, the attachment being emcient and moving to printing position only when an envelope blank is fed. When a blank is not fed to proper position, the attachment becomes inoperative by moving the printing platen out of printing engagement with the printing type. A complete envelope with printing instructions on its reverse side is provided without the necessity of running the envelopes through a printing machine after they are completed. Of course the machine may also be provided with printing means for printing return addresses on the front side of the envelopes should it be desired.

Changes may be made in the form, construction, and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages, and the right is hereby reserved to make all such changes as fairly fall within the scope of the following claims.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. In a printing device of the class described comprising a stationary shaft, an eccentric carried by the shaft, a platen supported by the eccentric and normally supported in non-printing position, means for rotating the platen in respect to said shaft, a gear carried by the shaft for shifting the position of the eccentric, a rotatable cam, a cam follower, a segment meshing with the gear, linkage connecting the segment and follower whereby the segment will turn the gear a part turn to move the platen to printing position, and means for returning the platen to non-printing position.

2. In a printing device of the class described comprising a stationary shaft, an eccentric carried by the shaft, a platen supported by the eccentric and normally supported in non-printing position, means for rotating the platen on the eccentric, a gear carried by the shaft for shifting the position of the eccentric, a rotatable cam, a cam follower, a segment meshing with the gear, linkage connecting the segment and follower whereby the segment will turn the gear a part turn to move the platen to printing position, means for returning the platen to non-printing position, a second segment meshing with the gear, means for feeding envelope blanks to printing position, linkage including latch mechanism connected to the second segment and controlled by a blank, said last linkage operating in opposition to said last named means, and preventing said means from returning the platen to nonprinting position when a blank is in a predetermined position; when no blank is in said predetermined position, the second segment being inoperative and allowing the means to restore the platen to non-printing position.

3. In an envelope making machine, means for successively feeding irregularly shaped envelope blanks along a predetermined path, each of said blanks having a projecting portion, printing mechanism for printing upon said projecting portions, and means adapted to contact said projecting portions for disabling the printing mechanism when a blank is not fed.

4. In a machine of the character described, means for feeding irregularly shaped blanks successively along a ,predetermined path in predetermined spaced relation, each of said blanks having a projecting portion, printing mechanism for printing upon said projecting portions at one position along their path of movement, sensing mechanism located at another position along the path of movement of said projections for detecting the presence or absence of a projection, and means for disabling said printing mechanism, said disabling means being controlled by the sensing mechanism.

5. In a machine of the class described, a coritinuously operating conveyor, feeding members in spaced relation upon said conveyor for feeding successive blanks in predetermined spaced relation therealong, printing mechanism located at one position along the conveyor for printing upon said blanks, sensing mechanism located at another position along the conveyor for detecting the presence or absence of a blank on the conveyor at said latter position, said positions being in predetermined spaced relation and the sensing position being disposed ahead of the printing position with respect to the path of blank movement, and means controlled by the sensing mechanism for disabling the printing mechanism, the spacing of said feeding members and of said posisions being such with respect to the timing of operation of the parts that the printing mechanism is disabled as a feeding member which is feeding no blank passes thereby.

6. In a machine of the class described, a continuously moving elongated conveyor, feeding members arranged in predetermined spaced relation upon said conveyor for successively feeding blanks therealong, printing mechanism disposed at one position along the conveyor for printing on said blanks, said printing mechanism including a type roll and a platen roll adapted normally to bear against the type roll, a pair of co-operating presser rolls between which blanks are fed at another position along the conveyor, a bi-furcated feeler member embracing one of said presser rolls and adapted to be held in one position by a blank passing between said rolls and to move to another position when no blank is passed between said rolls, means controlled by said bi-furcated feeler member for moving said platen roll away from the printing roll to disable the printing mechanism, said means including a latch controlled by said bi-furcated member, a toothed sector controlled by said latch, a gear meshing with said toothed sector, and an eccentric mounting for the platen operated by the gear.

HAROLD G. COWAN. EDWARD R. LAKE. STANLEY B. URBAN OWITZ. 

